Former Red Wings Star To Lead Russian Team At Winter Olympics

The NHL will not be represented at the Olympics this year but many former players including a former Red Wings star will be apart of the action this year.

According to USA Today, Pavel Datsyuk, the former Red Wings star who left the team in 2016 to return to Russia, is set to lead the team in South Korea.

Due to Russia's doping issues the team is being referred to this winter games as "Olympic Athletes from Russia".

Datsyuk will not be the only former NHL star to be on the team. Ilya Kovalchuk, who played in the NHL with Atlanta and New Jersey, will also be on the team. Both players are current stars in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.

Datsyuk currently plays for SKA Saint Petersburg where he leads the team as captain.

As you would expect with the NHL out, the Russian team is one of the favorites for Gold. The Winter Olympics will begin in South Korea on February 9th.